Culturally Authentic Texts for ALL Students and Those Who Need Them Most

Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes

Summary:

A young man exudes ‘black boy joy’ as he shares his appreciation and excitement for his local barbershop, and gets ready for a haircut that will “frame his swagger”. Rhythmic language, and youth vocabulary demonstrate how a trip to the barbershop develops the protagonist’s concept of beauty, confidence and sense of self. This is both an ‘ode to the fresh cut’ and an homage to barbers and the barber shop in the black community.